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Friday, March 11, 2011

Top 5 Children's Lit Agencies

Hi all! As promised, today's post is dedicated to the Top 5 Children's Lit Agenciesin terms of dealmaking (this includes Young Adult fiction). Please note that these are recent statistics that are apt to change. Again, I got the information from a post on Absolute Write. A very nice agent was kind enough to post a small amount of information from Publisher's Marketplace, and I feel comfortable reposting because AW is a free, public site. To get access to all of PM's wonderful info, click HERE. It's $20 a month.

Top 5 Agencies, Childrens:

1. Andrea Brown Literary Agency 67 deals in this category in the last 12 months, 34 in the last 6 months, 254 overall. 21 six-figure+ deals. Most recent deal in this category: February 21, 2011

2. Writers House 45 deals in this category in the last 12 months, 16 in the last 6 months, 220 overall. 37 six-figure+ deals. Most recent deal in this category: February 17, 2011

3. Erin Murphy Literary Agency 31 deals in this category in the last 12 months, 17 in the last 6 months, 111 overall. 2 six-figure+ deals. Most recent deal in this category: February 9, 2011

4. Sanford J. Greenburger Associates 31 deals in this category in the last 12 months, 10 in the last 6 months, 61 overall. 3 six-figure+ deals. Most recent deal in this category: January 19, 2011

5. Curtis Brown29 deals in this category in the last 12 months, 7 in the last 6 months, 94 overall. 5 six-figure+ deals. Most recent deal in this category: February 11, 2011

I would love to comment on all of these (and list agents, etc.), but I don't have time right now. We lost power at 4:30 this morning (yes, I was up. My two-year-old was very persuasive, aka, wouldn't stop saying, "Mommy, up! Mommy, wake up! Cereal!) and I just got a chance to dash over to the next town over to use wireless at a coffee shop. That said, here are a couple of things to know:

Andrea Brown Literary is amazing, and it's really hard to choose who to submit to, because they all sound great. Try your best to read about all the ladies and genuinely find the one you think fits for you (you can only query one of them). Include your reason for picking them in the query letter--I've read that these fine agents like personalization and want to know why you think they're the right agent for you.

Writers House and Curtis Brown are two of the very few agencies that allow you to query multiple agents. NOT at the same time. Query one, then wait until you hear back with a rejection to query another. They're all fantastic and it's nice to know that the door to these agencies isn't necessarily closed with one rejection.

Erin Murphy Literary Agency rocks! Only two agents and they're on the top five list~talk about serious work ethic! They don't accept unsolicited queries, so don't send them. Your best bet here is to meet Erin or Ammi-Joan Paquette at a conference. Also, Ms. Paquette has been known to lurk around Secret Agent contests on Miss Snark's First Victim, and the query critique thread on Absolute Write Water Cooler. She makes requests that way sometimes.

Okay, I've gotta get back to the house and eat all the ice cream before it melts! Hopefully the power will get turned on soon...oh the hazards of living in a smallish town near mountains. My 13-year-old has the day off from school, and I'm guessing he won't mind raiding the freezer for breakfast. Have a great weekend!

Oh no! I hope your electricity came back on, and that you didn't get a tummy ache from all the ice cream. But WOW what amazing information!! If I didn't already have the most awesome agent I would be scribbling it all down like crazy. ;D I'm going to go tweet this right now.

Hi Lois~ ICM has some great agents (Tina Wexler comes to mind for middle grade and young adult fiction)! The above list is simply the agencies that have made the most deals in the last 12 months, and it changes according to the market. By no means am I saying that these are the absolute best (though they have proven themselves worthy up being up there in the rankings), just that they have been the most prolific in terms of deals lately. There's a link to Publisher's Marketplace in the post--they have tons of information :)

Another fantastic list! I just made sure all of these were on my Query Tracker list.

By the way, you won the copy of Marilyn Brant's book, plus the Ghiradelli chocolate squares on my blog. Congratulations! You can reach me at caryn((AT))caryncaldwell((DOT))com to let me know which kind of chocolate you'd like (caramel, raspberry, mint, or extra dark) and where to send it.

Some great info here - thanks you! Ms. Paquette actually contacted me regarding something I posted for a pitch contest, and though she passed on my project, she's the one agent to give me good, viable non-form letter info about my book. I hope I have the opportunity to approach her again someday!

Great list!! I'm currently putting together a listing and though I am interested in those who represent YA I also need someone who likes Chick Lit novels since that's what I'll be pitching first... let the search begin.

About Me

I'm a lover of books, especially middle grade and young adult fiction. Mom and stepmother (the non-wicked kind) to 4 kiddos, author of THE ACTUAL & TRUTHFUL ADVENTURES OF BECKY THATCHER, NOOKS & CRANNIES, WAITING FOR AUGUSTA, and UNDER THE BOTTLE BRIDGE September 2017), wannabe home owner and watcher of HGTV.